Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 17/02) - The Yellowknife Catholic Schools board predicts it will have more dough than it knows what to do with by June next year.

In a school board meeting Wednesday, officials passed their 2002-2003 budget with a projected accumulated surplus of $837,000 by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2003. The surplus dropped by about $46,000 in the 2001-2002 school year.

The extra funds were announced with little fanfare, as the meeting was attended only by staff and media. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) suggests that school boards have an accrued surplus of between five and 10 per cent of annual operating funds.

"Our financial position is healthy but we're not swimming in money just yet," said YCS assistant superintendent Mike Huvenaars.

The budget calls for spending of $16,106,377 during the 2002-2003 school year.

Jane Haley, vice chair of the board, gave kudos to ECE for hiking funding for three years running. ECE funding has increased by over $700,000 this year and provides 70 per cent of the board's revenue.

Other revenue comes from municipal taxes, board generated funds, like bus pass sales, and other program grants from the federal and territorial governments.

Over 60 per cent of the board's revenue is spent on school programs. Included in programs are expenses for staffing requirements.

The board will reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in the classroom to 15.85 to 1 in the fall, from 16.09 to 1 in 2001-02. This is below the target of 16.5 to 1 proposed by the GNWT.

This is possible because of the addition of new staff. It will increase its staff by 2.15 teachers, and 2.39 support assistants.

The school administration also plans to hire a math-science coach to work in all three Catholic schools, and share an educational psychologist with Yellowknife District No. 1.

The ECE funding increase is being used to enhance student support services also. For instance, classroom assistants have increased from three to five district-wide. Support services pay for programs like the federally-funded toy lending library in St. Patrick's High School that offers training and support to teen mothers.

"There's some exciting new initiatives in our budget and we're happy that it's balanced," said Huvenaars.

Spending on administrative salaries and benefits is up approximately $45,000, while trustee expenses have remain static.

Student enrolment is predicted to increase by 39 students district wide.

In the fall, Catholics students will enjoy a music program, with $50,000 in new instruments and a new instructor.

Full-day kindergarten will also begin at Weledeh and Ecole St. Joseph school.

Two new security policies received a second reading at the meeting.

Security screening and background checks on all adult school volunteers, and installing video surveillance equipment both internally and externally on board property were proposed without opposition. They will become school policy at the final reading in June.

New administrators

The appointment of five new administrators was also announced.

Weledeh Catholic school will have Merril Dean as their new principal, and Simone Hlewka, as their assistant principal.

Dawn Mackillop will be the new assistant principal at Ecole St. Joseph, and St. Patrick high school will have two new assistant principals, Todd Stewart, from Rae-Edzo, and Coleen McDonald.